119-HR3872

Bill is currently in: House
Path to Law
House Senate President

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3872

1. Short title
2. Application of Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to hardrock minerals

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025" or the "MERICA Act of 2025".

2. Application of Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to hardrock minerals

The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) is amended—

(1) United States - in section 2 (30 U.S.C. 351)—

(A) United States - by striking "Act "United States"" and inserting the following:

(1) United States - The term United States

(B) Acquired lands; lands acquired by the United States - by striking "Alaska. "Acquired lands"" and inserting the following:

(2) Acquired lands; lands acquired by the United States - The term acquired lands

(C) Secretary - by striking "552). “Secretary" and inserting the following:

(3) Secretary - The term Secretary

(D) Mineral leasing laws - by striking "Interior. "Mineral leasing laws" shall mean" and inserting the following:

(4) Mineral leasing laws - The term mineral leasing laws means

(E) Lease - by striking "Acts. "Lease"" and inserting the following:

(5) Lease - The term lease

(F) Oil - by striking "requires. The term" and inserting the following:

(6) Oil - The term

(G) Hardrock mineral - by adding at the end the following:

(7) Hardrock mineral - The term hardrock mineral—

(A) - includes deposits of—

(i) - minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks;

(ii) - base metals;

(iii) - precious metals;

(iv) - industrial metals; and

(v) - precious and semi-precious gemstones; and

(B) - does not include deposits of—

(i) - coal;

(ii) - oil;

(iii) - oil shale;

(iv) - gas;

(v) - sodium;

(vi) - potassium;

(vii) - sulfur; or

(viii) - mineral materials subject to disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

(2) - in section 3 (30 U.S.C. 352), by striking "and sulfur" and inserting "sulfur, and hardrock minerals".